- HBO Max is set to launch in the UK and Ireland in March 2026
- The service will feature acclaimed shows like House of the Dragon and Euphoria, plus classic hits
- The streaming service could be a big rival to Netflix
There’s a new streaming service set to launch in the UK that may have bosses at Netflix a little nervous.
Yes, after years of waiting, we finally know when HBO Max – Warner Bros’ answer to Disney Plus – will land on the shores of old Blighty.
And the best news is, it’s going to happen very soon.
While at the HBO Max 2026 Global Programming Slate, Metro learned that the plan is to launch the service early next year, in March 2026.
Of course, you might be wondering why a new service will have the Tudum team trembling in their (presumably red) boots?
Well, it’s not just that Friends is leaving Netflix (presumably for their new competitor). No, it’s because HBO Max is a brand associated with prestige dramas and top-notch shows, of course.
Indeed, if you take a stroll down the alleys and ginnels of the Internet, you’ll find people who claim it might just be the best streaming service on the block.
So with that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the entertainment hurricane that’s barrelling towards our fair isle.
When is HBO Max launching in the UK?
HBO head honcho Casey Bloys revealed that the streaming service will launch in the UK and Ireland in late March 2026.
The launch is part of a major expansion by HBO into key European countries early next year, including Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
What TV shows will HBO Max have?
While an exact list of the shows available hasn’t been revealed yet, HBO Max is very likely to have an impressive lineup of shows.
We expect exciting ongoing series and new shows – like The Pitt, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Lanterns and Euphoria – to be available on the service.
HBO Max will also almost certainly have an impressive back catalogue of older HBO and Warner Bros hits, including Friends, The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Band of Brothers and more.
What movies will HBO Max have?
Again, we don’t have an exact list of the films that will be on offer when HBO launches, but we can make some reasonable guesses.
It seems incredibly likely that the service will include Warner Bros’ impressive library of films, which includes giant franchises like (take a deep breath) Superman, Harry Potter, Godzilla, Dune, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Lord of the Rings, Mad Max and more… phew.
Do we really need another streaming service?
Metro’s Deputy TV editor, Tom Percival, shares his thoughts on HBO Max…
When I heard that HBO Max was launching in the UK, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
You can call me a cynic, but at this point, I’m already paying through the nose for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and NOW.
And you know what? I’m starting to get a financial nosebleed.
So how could I possibly justify paying for yet another streaming service? Would HBO Max really be so good that I had to get it?
Well, after sitting through the HBO Max 2026 Slate, I finally know the answer.
Based on the quality of the programming on offer, the new shows in development and some of the exclusive footage we were shown at the slate, I think HBO Max looks like it’s going to be one of the best streaming services available.
Whether I subscribe or not will likely come down to price, but I can see a world where I cancel something like NOW (especially if it losesnewer HBO shows) to get access to HBO Max.
This isn’t like Paramount Plus or Apple TV, which I intermittently subscribe to when a show comes along I want to watch. It feels essential.
What do HBO Max subscribers think of the service?
Of course, you don’t have to take my word for the fact that HBO Max looks impressive; there are plenty of subscribers in the US who have shared their thoughts on the streamer.
On a Reddit thread helpfully titled ‘Is HBO worth it?’, one user enthusiastically wrote, ‘It’s the best of the streaming services.’
OkCranberry3889 meanwhile wrote: ‘More worth it than Netflix. Quality, award-winning shows plus a huge backlog of movies.’
Another user was similarly enthusiastic, adding: ‘They have the best original content going back 25 years IMO.
Is Netflix Tud-oomed?
Metro’s Deputy TV editor, Tom Percival, shares his thoughts on HBO Max vs Netflix…
Honestly? No.
On paper, the two services seem like competitors (and they are, of course), but their different libraries of shows, movies and IP mean there’s a clear division between the two brands.
I just don’t see a world where consumers abandon Netflix in their millions because a new streaming service has launched.
After all, the duo have existed side by side in the States for years, and Netflix remains the top dog over there, so I think the same will be true in the UK as well.
‘They don’t have the volume of content that Netflix has, but they have more quality for my money. I think Netflix and Max are one and two for streaming platforms, and then everything else is a distant third.’
Leah-at-Greenprint had a more nuanced opinion, however, writing: ‘Yes, if you’ve never had it, tons of great content. No, if you’ve had it in the past few years.
‘There’s not enough good new content to justify it, I’d give it another year or so and let some more shows come out in their entirety.’
FrankCostanzaJr felt similarly, explaining, ‘HBO is the best streaming service and has the biggest collection of top-notch programming, but once you’ve seen The Wire, The Sopranos, The Deuce, White Lotus, Righteous Gemstones, Boardwalk Empire and about 10 other shows, there’s no need to keep it forever.’
How much will HBO Max cost?
At the time of writing, we don’t know exactly how much HBO Max will cost in the UK.
That said, we do know how much the service costs in the US and other European territories, so we can make an educated guess as to how much the different service tiers will cost.
What’s the difference between Standard and Premium?
HBO Basic with Ads: Ad-supported HD streaming with no offline downloads.
HBO Standard: ad-free and includes 30 offline downloads with streaming on two devices at once in full HD.
HBO Premium: higher-quality streaming, including 4K, Dolby Atmos, and HDR on select titles, allows for four simultaneous streams, and includes up to 100 offline downloads.
In the US, HBO Max costs the following a month:
- Basic with Ads: $10.99 (£8.24)
- Standard: $18.49 (£13.86)
- Premium: $22.99 (£17.23)
In Spain, HBO Max costs the following a month:
- Basic with Ads: €6.99 (£6.12)
- Standard: €10.99 (£9.62)
- Premium: €15.99 (13.99)
With that in mind, I can see HBO launching at the midpoint between the more expensive US prices and the lower Spanish prices.
Will you be getting HBO Max?
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Yes
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No
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Depends on the price
I could see a world where the Basic with Ads package costs £6.99 while the premium tier sets you back £15.99. There are also rumours that HBO Max will be bundled with Sky and NOW, which may change costs.
Of course, this is all speculation, and Metro has approached HBO for comment on pricing.
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